MLB News

Cobb, 'pen shaky in loss as O's win streak ends

Relievers combine to allow 6 late runs; Mancini hits leadoff homer

By
Brittany Ghiroli

May 12, 2018

BALTIMORE -- A thunder and hail storm knocked Orioles starter Alex Cobb from the game in the sixth, and the bullpen faltered as Baltimore fell, 10-3, to the Rays on Saturday night in the second game of a doubleheader.The defeat, which featured a rain delay of 79 minutes, saw O's

BALTIMORE -- A thunder and hail storm knocked Orioles starter Alex Cobb from the game in the sixth, and the bullpen faltered as Baltimore fell, 10-3, to the Rays on Saturday night in the second game of a doubleheader.The defeat, which featured a rain delay of 79 minutes, saw O's relievers Jimmy Yacabonis, Pedro Araujo and Mike Wright Jr. struggle with their command and combine to allow six late runs that helped snap the Orioles' season-high win streak at four."There was a game there to be won," said manager Buck Showalter, who opted for Yacabonis because the delay was too long to risk sending Cobb back out there.

"It's kind of where we were [in the bullpen] ... it was tough for [Yacabonis] and Pedro and Mike. We had some people who weren't going to pitch the second game or [at all] today."While Game 1's win was highlighted by a solid Major League debut from David Hess -- who turned in a quality start and went six innings -- and homers from Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore wasn't nearly as crisp in the nightcap.Cobb, who was charged with four runs (three earned) over 5 2/3 innings, allowed a solo homer to C.J. Cron one out into the game. Oriole leadoff man Trey Mancini erased that immediate deficit with a homer off Rays starter Matt Andriese. But that was the only hit the O's would muster up over the first five innings, until Caleb Joseph's leadoff double off Rays reliever Andrew Kittredge following the rain delay. Mancini drove him in with a center-field single to make it 4-2, and the O's pulled within one on Schoop's dribbler, but that was as close as they'd get.

"That's baseball in a nutshell for you," Mancini said of the vast difference in play of the doubleheader. "Something that happens earlier in the day has pretty much zero influence on later in the day, especially when they're two different ballgames. It just goes to show anything can happen in any game."Looking for his first win, Cobb (0-5, 7.06 ERA) surrendered a run in each of his first four innings, including Brad Miller's homer in the fourth. Signed to a four-year deal as a free agent this spring, the former Ray was coming off a pair of quality starts but was unable to keep that momentum going.

"It's a long day for everybody [with a doubleheader] and really as a starting pitcher, you try to take it upon yourself to make it a little easier and go deep in the ballgame," said Cobb, who was at 69 pitches when the rain came. "I was lined up to do that. Mother Nature came and ruined it."Yacabonis -- who allowed a run -- and Araujo -- who gave up two -- each issued three walks, with the Rays scoring three ninth-inning runs off of Wright to put the game out of reach.

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
The O's sent Hess -- their 26th man -- back to Triple-A Norfolk following Saturday's doubleheader. While the move may look odd because he pitched so well, Hess is eligible to come back whenever needed and does not need to stay in the Minors for 10 days.SOUND SMART
Araujo, the Orioles' Rule 5 Draft pick, has allowed runs in seven of his last eight outings, with his ERA climbing to 6.86 in the process."He's got a future. It's just kind of, unfortunately you have to be force-fed a little bit up here, and I felt for him. It's tough," Showalter said. "It's not really his [fault]. His experience level is a challenge for him."MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
Rays outfielder Mallex Smith was called out stealing third base with two outs in the eighth. The Rays challenged and following a 50-second replay review, the call was overturned.

UP NEXT
Right-hander Dylan Bundy turned in the worst outing of his career against the Royals on Tuesday, surrendering four home runs without recording an out. The O's Opening Day starter has struggled the past three starts with allowing the long ball. He'll look to get back on track at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the Rays. He will be opposed by lefty Blake Snell.